NOTE: Kodi VPN Manager only works with OpenVPN protocols, so make sure that your VPN offers the OpenVPN protocols. FastestVPN offers various security protocols including OpenVPN and you can easily configure FastestVPN with a VPN manager for Kodi.

Googling VPN noticed mostly spam sites with best VPN deals.

Here is an interesting post relating to VPN services and use of said services.

I cannot attach pictures to this blog due to the security on the forum such that this blog will not include any pictures.

Going slow with this as I have updated all of my laptops here to running Ubuntu 18.04 64 bit which is the current desktop release of Ubuntu. It is different from Ubuntu 16.04 and I am getting used to it by not having the choice of using Ubuntu 16.04. With this endeavor I am also installing Visio as I prefer it over the Ubuntu Visio alternatives (of which I have tried and not really happy with).

Concurrent to this endeavor is updating to Windows 10 on same laptops using dual boot. This is different from earlier running a base of Ubuntu with Windows Oracle virtual boxes which works fine.

a - download or copy latest version of Setup_HAI_Dealer_PC_Access_3.exe. An older one will also work and copy this file and text file with your serial number.b - install "other" program using PlayonLinux. Remember that password is password for first time installation. I changed this in options to blank later on.c - test the updater in PCA to make sure it works.

Installing Polybytes on PlayonLinux

a - author of Polybytes has retired and posted his application for free now. That said it is attached.b - drop the installation program on your desktop and install as you installed PCA. Use the same drive as configured for PCA.

Installing MS Office 2003 Visio on PlayonLinux

a - unzip the original ISO to your Ubuntu desktopb - copy the entire ISO files over to the root drive of PlayOnLinuxc - install MS Office from the root drive of PlayOnLinux.]]>Wed, 27 Jun 2018 13:28:00 +0000http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-475-running-pca-upstart-polybytes-and-visio-in-ubuntu-1804-64-bit/APC PMP1X-A surge protector Installationhttp://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-474-apc-pmp1x-a-surge-protector-installation/
Note if you are not familiar with your fuse panel or have never done anything in your fuse panel or do not like doing anything electrical in your home then personally I would recommend hiring a professional to do this.

It is recommended to shut off main house breaker (all electricity going to your home).

Moved it to a new hole on the side of the fuse panel and reconnected it to breakers and neutral.

3 - installed the APC PMP1XA surge protector in old HAI UPB Repeater hole. Pulled wires to side.Wires are long and APC Surge protector is adjacent to the two 30 AMP tandem breakers / neutral bar.So will be cutting the 4 wires down a bit.

Accidently hit a main ingress wire (one of three on the top) with a screwdriver (with breaker off) and it melted the tip of the screwdriver. Big spark.

Taking a short break now. Thunderstorm is continuing. All day rain weather forecast for today.

4 - Did a trial run on the APC surge protector to make sure it was working (LEDs light up). I have not shortened up the wires such that I plugged in the 40 amp tandem breaker on the bottom and connected the two neutral leads to the bottom of the neutral bus bar. Switched on the breakers and LEDs light.

5 - Wanting a short run from the APC two neutral / ground wires moving and rearranging neutrals moving them down two posts. Will do one neutral wire at a time as they are 10-12 guage. Next cutting the two APC Neutral wires shortening them and installing them on top to neutral posts.

Baby steps here.

6 - Install 40 AMP tandem breaker and connect two APC black line wires to 40 AMP breaker (about 3.5" or so) and label breaker and APC surge protector. Note that the breaker is in OFF mode.

]]>Sat, 12 May 2018 18:43:00 +0000http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-474-apc-pmp1x-a-surge-protector-installation/RPi NodeRed-MQTT-OWFS tinkeringhttp://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-473-rpi-nodered-mqtt-owfs-tinkering/
Moved the post to here from Automation. I cannot attach pictures to my posts these days such that this blog will be pictureless.

That said I see no interest so will continue to post what I am doing with this stuff.

Old configuration was using multiple 1-Wire controllers serially connected to one computer and talking to 1-wire devices connected via cat5e all over the house.

New 1-wire configuration is using a created RPi 1-wire hub connected to a few sensors.

Currently running POE connected RPi in the attic is just generating a text file from Digitemp for second floor sensors. Configured a new RPi for main floor sensors in the last few days.

Info: This tool will continuously read from the device, and report ifsamples get lost. If you observe no further output, everything is fine.

Reading samples in async mode...

It is interesting that the software utilized for Satellite tracking has been around forever and part of the Ubuntu base install. Basically you just configure the software with your home coordinates, satellites you want to watch and the software does everything else.

The original RPi project uses Jessie. Here testing with Wheezy.

I am now at the point of downloading images from the NOAA satellites. It works except I only get static at this point and need to adjust my antenna.

]]>Thu, 28 Dec 2017 13:01:00 +0000http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-469-raspberry-pi-noaa-weather-satellite-receiver/Updating Ubuntu 14.04 and Ubuntu 16.04 video to work with Kodi 17.4http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-468-updating-ubuntu-1404-and-ubuntu-1604-video-to-work-with-kodi-174/
I noticed a flickering video on the Ubuntu 14.04 builds and ran the following to correct my video issues.

A - Insert your SD card in to your RPi and plug in an Ethernet cable to network port on RPi and plug in power up.B - Have a look see at your firewall router to find the DHCP address of your RPi. It will be labeled as Raspberry.C - Download Putty from here ==> PuttyD - Install it on your Windows PCE - SSH to your RPi using user pi and password raspberryF - type sudo su once in and hit enterG - type raspi-config and hit enter - do what the picture shows. (Expand system, change password, internationalization options and advanced menu)Go to advanced menu on raspi-config and do what the picture shows. (host name, memory split (go to 16) and i2c)H - Exit and reboot.I - SSH back to your RPi - adding one userType sudo suadd your name to users and sudo - note here using my name as an exampleadduser pete *password and answer all of the questions - I use return on themusermod -aG sudo peteJ - SSH back to your RPi - here we are going to create a static address - easy these days.K - cd /etcL - nano dhcpcd.confadd your static IP to the end of the file. Use your network information. The example is my configuration.

M - reboot and ssh back to your RPi with your static IP and new username and type sudo su.N - type apt-get updateO - type apt-get upgrade (note this will run for a while)P - when finished reboot.Q - you are now finished with base configuration on your RPiP - if you have not connected your lightning sensor then do it now. Note type halt to shut down your RPi, unplug network and power cable, hook up your Lightning sensor.Q - testing your i2C connection to you lightning sensorR - cd /S - type apt-get install i2c-toolsT - type i2cdetect -y 1 * you will see the following. If you see only 03 then you are connected to the AS3935

# Rev. 1 Raspberry Pis should leave bus set at 0, while rev. 2 Pis should set# bus equal to 1. The address should be changed to match the address of the# sensor. (Common implementations are in README.md)sensor = RPi_AS3935(address=0x03, bus=1)

M - ssh to your pi, cd /opt/lightning/RaspberryPi-AS3935N - type python demo.pyO - I've attached another more elaborate demo for lightning sensor at the end of this post.The python script is called AS3935-monitor.py.

Lightning detected - distance = 5 kms at 14:25:49.161 2017-07-071 2017-07-07 19:38:49.285675 6 1 0(0) ]]>Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:14:00 +0000http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-467-how-to-use-a-as3935-lightning-sensor-with-a-raspberry-pi/RPi3-Pine642Gb Weather stationhttp://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-466-rpi3-pine642gb-weather-station/
Note that the Pine64 2Gb is larger than the RPi3. It does have a built in RTC and it will run 64bit Ubuntu such that it runs circles around the RPi3 and sells for $29 USD with no case or power supply.

Baby steps here....

Testing a new little lightning sensor here using an old RPi, Wheezy and one GPIO port doing a pulse count via Python.

Might also add a NOAA radio to above concoction as I use one today connected to the OmniPro 2.I have read you can purchase one on a board for tinkering with. (RPI and Arduino stuff) or maybe use the SDR radio for this.Raspberry Pi B+/2 NWR Receiver/SAME Decoder

A - Hobby Boards lightning sensor that has dual counters for 1-wire connecting.

I have used this one for years now with no issues. Old 1-wire network was based on multiple Temp-0X devices and USB/Serial Maxim 1-wire devices. Old network was configured in a star fashion from the 1990's. The lightning device was on the roof next to the AAG weather station. The AAG weather station worked but my wind speed counts were off or it was just very windy all of the time. Over the years went to a Davis weather station.That said removed AAG Weather station and 1-Wire lightning sensor. Testing the 1-wire lightning sensor in the basement (works fine there too) and built a new RPi2 Jessie based 1-wire combo temperature/humidity sensor hub in the attic providing sensors for the attic and bedrooms below using Digitemp. This RPi2 was also a Z-Wave device. Probably changing the RPi2 to a Pine64 with 2Gb of memory and switching over to Ubuntu linux.

B - testing a lightning sensor being sold on Ebay with simple analog and digital connectivity. Just measures lightning pulses. (very simple device).

Connectivity to the RPi (original old one ) is 3.3VDC, Ground and GPIO2.

This one will involve a bit of bit banging and using the i2C bus on the RPi (or anything else). I have been doing this stuff with RPi's and testing mini travel routers and ardunino (very small stuff).

Basically it is 3 wires and 2 wires for power. (2 GPIO and 1 IRQ for i2C stuff and VCC and ground)

26th of June, 2017

Rebuilding RPi2 in attic today for testing purposes.- base is a Z-Wave GPIO and PiFace RTC- it is doing Z-Wave and using Digitemp for temperature and humidity readings on the second floor and attic.- adding old Hobby Boards Lightning 1-wire sensor dual counter to the 1-wire network as it has worked fine in the basement.- I was using Jessie lite on the device and it has crashed now 3 times in the span of one year so switching to Wheezy as it is lighter to me than Jessie Lite.- alternative is just to keep the original Pi doing Z-Wave and add a second one for the 1-wire stuff.]]>Tue, 20 Jun 2017 12:48:00 +0000http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-466-rpi3-pine642gb-weather-station/PFSense update and tweakinghttp://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/29/entry-465-pfsense-update-and-tweaking/
Updated PFSense this past week with no issues.